Don't tell them it's in Miami.

Maybe they won't find it.

It's obvious the college football universe can't count on the rest of the Big Ten exposing the Buckeyes for the top-ranked frauds that they remain. They blasted their way through pedestrian conference competition once again only to embarrass themselves and their conference once again on the ultimate stage.

All the Buckeyes accomplished Monday was provide the BCS bashers more ammunition for questioning the legitimacy of the process.

Ohio State started out fast — same as last year.

If only the game ended in the first quarter — same as last year.

But it didn't.

LSU rolled over the Buckeyes the same as Florida did a year ago, utilizing its superior athleticism on the defensive line, thoroughly outclassing Ohio State in a 38-24 title-clinching victory that was truly as ugly as the final score indicated.

Don't bore me with the lame excuses about unfair homefield advantages or the Big Ten's modest success over the SEC in irrelevant bowls. For the second straight year, the best in the Big Ten was clearly no match for the best in the SEC in the only bowl game that matters.

"We've been through so many tough games this season that it didn't bother us when they got out to that early lead," said LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey. "I think we showed that we belonged in this game. Even though we had two losses, we knew that we were one of the best teams in the country, especially now since we were healthy."

Dorsey was the Outland Trophy winner, awarded to the nation's best interior lineman. He battled nagging knee and back injuries through the second half of the season, but there was no containing him and the Tigers' defensive inside push. They continually maintained pressure on Ohio State quarterback Todd Boeckman.

"We just showed once again why the SEC plays the best football in the country," said LSU defensive tackle Ricky Jean-Francois, who was named Defensive Player of the Game with a blocked field goal and one and a half quarterback sacks. "We knew that they couldn't keep up with our speed on the line as the game went on."

That debate will rage on, but there's no debating that the Big Ten currently is incapable of respectfully representing itself in the important bowl games.

The Big Ten has been now outscored in its last four BCS bowls the past two years, 160-73. This was the only time that a Big Ten team scored at least 20 points, the result of a meaningless garbage touchdown in the final two minutes when the Tigers were already preparing their coach Les Miles for his celebratory Gatorade shower.

And Jim Tressel was left once again to explain how everything can unravel so quickly and decisively.

It didn't help that the Buckeyes committed five personal fouls.

"It's a difficult thing," he said afterward. "Just like any other situation, you've got to look at the facts and make your assessments based on that."

Tressel produced a 10-minute DVD for each player, a composite of the national criticism the Buckeyes received last year following their 41-14 annihilation at the Gators' cold-blooded hands. There were acidic snippets from various ESPN talking heads as well as specific excerpts from some national columnists.

There was even a point this season when Tressel made the player entry code at the Buckeyes' practice facility "4114."

Their return to the championship game was roundly mocked, but Tressel figured he could use the criticism as motivation. It certainly helped the Gators a year ago when they were diminished as nothing more than a BCS bastard child, unjustly taking the spot of a supposedly more deserving Michigan team seeking a rematch against the Buckeyes.

It's unfortunate that the buzz never reached the Bayou.

This game never generated the electrical build up worthy of a climax to a fabulous college football season because of the general consensus that neither LSU nor Ohio State was worthy of participation.

The Buckeyes' lack of competition will once again fuel the furor of those adamant that nothing short of an actual playoff compromises the integrity of the distinction of national champion.

But the BCS got it right — again.

As outmatched as the Buckeyes looked once again, you still can't fault them for the Big Ten's collective malaise. They were one of two one-loss teams from a major conference, along with Kansas.

And these LSU Tigers resembled the edition from the season's second week when they laid a 48-7 whipping on a visiting Virginia Tech team that ultimately won the ACC championship.